Norman “Norm” F. Poulin

SIDNEY – Norman “Norm” F. Poulin, of Sidney, passed away peacefully on Sept. 18, 2023 at the Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn.

Norm was born in Sidney on Oct. 11, 1939, the son of the late Alfred and Desange (Bernier) Poulin. He attended school in Sidney and then on to Cony High School graduating in 1958. During his high school years, he worked at Kennebec Brick in Sidney.

After high school, he joined the Air National Guard and attended boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Upon returning home, he continued to be active in the Guard until 1964 while working at Eastern Packing in Waterville where he helped to make different kinds of meat products. He then went on the road delivering these products to various businesses and dedicated 30 years of commitment to the company. Norm also raised broiler chickens for Maplewood Poultry in Belfast. Along the way, Norm built many friendships and established connections that he carried with him throughout the years.

Norm’s next adventure was purchasing his own pastry business, delivering a variety of pastries throughout the Central Maine area.

From the time he was a boy, Norm always loved country music and listened to the Grand Ole Opry and WWVA’s Wheeling Jamboree. He would ride his bike to Augusta’s City Hall to watch the local country musicians. At the shows, Norm would befriend the performers backstage, which grew into lifelong relationships, both professional and personal. He was also the Maine State Fan Club representative for Loretta Lynn for 10 years.

Back when Norm was working for WKCG Radio in Augusta, he heard Yodeling Slim Clark give an interview on the station. In 1970, after speaking with Yodeling Slim, Norm came up with the idea to start putting on shows to get musicians in front of the crowds, establishing Norm Poulin Productions, which later evolved into the Country Music Pioneer Show featuring Maine country artists, as well as performers coming up from Nashville, Tenn., to perform throughout Maine. Norm’s saying “If the ticker ticks, the music clicks, and they come from the cities and out of the sticks” which certainly rang true when seeing the thousands of people that attended the shows throughout the years. As a result of his dedication and passion for country music, Norm was honored and proud to be inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame in 2021.

Many people throughout Central Maine would often see Norm’s truck with a sign advertising blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or corn for sale. If you stopped to buy from Norm, plan on an extended sale because you would hear several stories from Norm with a few wise cracks thrown in for free.

After the seasons were done for selling, he would enjoy his favorite hobbies of deer and bear hunting. His love for the hunt started at a very early age for Norm, often choosing his favorite spots on his own family homestead where he was born and lived his entire life.

Norm enjoyed sharing holiday meals at his brother and sister-in-law’s home, and later attending many holiday dinners at his niece, Kimberly’s home, where he truly enjoyed her raspberry pies, and a haircut when needed. When Norm had business or financial questions, or just someone to lend a hand, he would call on his nephew Ryan who was always willing to help Uncle Norm.

Many people knew Norm as the greeter and card checker at Sam’s Club, where he worked for 17 years. To many, he was not just the greeter, but the conversation starter.

Norm was predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Desange; his brother, Henry, sister, Jeannine, and sister-in-law, Helen Poulin.

Survivors include his brother, Gerald Poulin of Sidney; niece, Kimberly Murgo and husband Lorenzo of Benton, nephew, Ryan Poulin and wife Charity of Sidney, niece, Ann Lefebvre and husband Rick of Waterville, and niece, Rose Hunt and husband Phil of Norridgewock; along with several great-nieces and nephews.

At Norm’s request, there will be no services or celebration of life. Norm would want you all to continue celebrating life every day and live it to the fullest. As Norm would say,” I’ll see you when I saw ya”, and “Toodeloo”.

Arrangements are under the direction of Dan and Scott’s Cremation and Funeral Services of Skowhegan. The family invites you to visit Norm’s memorial page at https://dsfuneral.com/obituaries/norman-poulin-2023 to share condolences, share photos and special memories.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to

The Maine Country Music Hall of Fame,

P.O. Box 62,

Athens, ME 04912

Norman “Norm” F. Poulin

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